Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 113

To the Teacher, From Vanessa 113

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The three members escorted the bound Jenyata and Baras back to the castle. Thanks to Vanessa’s teleportation magic, the return was swift and simple. The distance wasn’t far, so multiple jumps were easy.

As soon as Baras arrived at the castle, he was whisked away, and a Ministry of Justice official appeared to take custody of Jenyata and collect the evidence.

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

“No, looking at you, it seems like you’ve worked even harder,” Janz Garou muttered.

The Ministry of Justice official, rubbing the dark circles under his eyes, packed the evidence into a magically sealed box and said, “I hope the day comes soon when there’s no more overtime. Or at least they could raise the overtime pay a bit.”

He expressed his true feelings with a weary expression.

As Jenyata and the Ministry of Justice official left under guard, Anna yawned widely and smacked her lips. “You must have suffered a lot from being suddenly dragged away, Lieutenant.”

“Thinking about it, it must have been a bolt from the blue. Weren’t you almost killed because you were late writing a report?” Vanessa said, a sigh escaping with her laugh at Janz’s teasing.

“I’ll never work overtime carelessly again.”

“That’s a good idea. Should I take you home?”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll head out first.”

“You’re learning fast.”

It was already very late at night, even though it had been evening when she left, with people chattering.

Vanessa left the castle gate and used teleportation magic as soon as she was a short distance away. Fortunately, the alley near her house was deserted, so she didn’t encounter anyone.

Worrying about him wouldn’t help. She hated spending the dawn worrying about someone while curled up. It was better to somehow sleep through the dark night and go to Valder Castle in the bright morning.

Vanessa washed up and lay straight in bed. Before she knew it, the winter duvet felt too warm.

Maybe that’s why she couldn’t fall asleep easily.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Toc. Toc. Toc, Todok.

Shallow dreams were easily disturbed. Vanessa, who had barely fallen asleep after counting about ten thousand sheep because she was worrying about Gideon, groaned and turned to her side.

Toc, Toc.

It sounded like someone was throwing small pebbles at the window. Unable to bear the continuous rhythmic noise, Vanessa groaned and got up. “Who… is it….”

The complicated network of alleys on this side of town had many unusual residents. Vanessa opened the window, ready to snap at whoever was playing pranks at this hour. She was already so on edge!

However, the eyes she met when she poked her head out were such a welcome sight that she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

‘Vanessa.’

Gideon was smiling. His smile was as bright as the sun cutting through the darkness.

Vanessa closed the window and threw on a thin, oversized sweater. Then she immediately ran out of the room.

He was standing in the alley. The man, who was looking at the sky where the moonlight was faint and the stars were bright, opened his arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world when their eyes met.

Vanessa ran and hugged him tightly. Only then did she feel a wave of relief in his warm embrace and sighed.

“It’s cold, why did you come out like this?”

“What’s cold? Spring is almost here.”

“The air in the early morning is always cold. Your cheeks are pale now.”

The soft voice was full of worry.

Vanessa suddenly laughed and buried her face in his chest to hide it. *We’re both so worried about each other.*

Eventually, the two retreated to a more sheltered part of the alley where the wind didn’t blow and sat leaning against the wall. Feeling that wasn’t enough, Gideon took off his coat and wrapped it around Vanessa.

Vanessa sniffed. Fortunately, there was no fishy smell of blood.

When she subtly raised her gaze, it met his, and he was already looking at her. He slightly raised the corners of his lips.

She quietly observed him and then opened her mouth. “I was worried.”

“I know.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. It was much easier than you think.”

“How do you know what I think?”

“You worry a lot. You tend to think ahead and regret a lot. So, I think my guess is right.”

Vanessa couldn’t refute it at all because his words were spot on. She felt a little sulky for some reason, but she felt better when Gideon kindly held her hand.

“Then, is that Countess Jenyata’s daughter healthy?”

“She seemed mentally shocked, but she wasn’t physically harmed.”

“That’s a relief. Now I can hate Countess Jenyata without worry.”

Gideon laughed softly. As his eyes, filled with fatigue, drooped, Vanessa reached out her arm with pity. He lowered his head to make it easier for Vanessa to reach him.

White fingers gently stroked his eyes. A languid sigh escaped him.

“Why did you come here? Why didn’t you go and rest?”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to sleep because you were worried. But it seems like you were sleeping. Your eyes are full of sleepiness?”

Vanessa quickly denied it. “Not at all? It’s just a feeling.”

“I see.”

Gideon smiled faintly.

“Actually, I came because I wanted to see you.”

Her heart fluttered at the honest words, so simply stated.

It was the first time she liked this dark alley. The alley, where only one magic stone lamp flickered with a faint yellow light in the distance, was the perfect place to hide her blushing cheeks.

It was truly a strange thing.

When meeting Gideon as a friend, she always seemed to reveal her feelings without hiding anything, in detail. She was happy to meet him, and she wanted to meet him again next time. Or she felt relieved to be with him.

But strangely, after becoming lovers with him, it was difficult to express her true feelings.

That’s probably because his sincere whispers affected her so deeply. It was because she wanted to cherish and refine the good things and show them on the most beautiful day.

But today, she wanted to convey her honest words. It wasn’t a bright and beautiful day, but it was a difficult day for both of them.

*Actually, I’m glad you came. I’m relieved to see that you’re not hurt. Thank you.*

She carefully opened her mouth. “D, do you want to sleep over?”

But words that were very different from what she intended popped out. Vanessa was so surprised that she covered her own mouth. *Isn’t that too forward?*

Gideon, who saw her reaction, barely stopped himself from laughing out loud. As he shook his body subtly with his head down, Vanessa coughed awkwardly.

“It’s too f, far to the castle… Oh right, we were wizards, weren’t we? W, we can go back quickly.”

“It would be nice to sleep over. It would be nice….”

Gideon lowered his head and whispered in her ear. “It’s too narrow here…”

*Because the soundproofing isn’t good.*

Vanessa reacted overly sensitively to the languid tone that suited the night.

“W, what are you going to do with good soundproofing!”

“What else would we do but talk? Or is there something else you want to do?” He chuckled and replied. Vanessa, seeing his mischievous eyes, realized that she had been caught up in his teasing and sulked for a moment.

Gideon finally felt relieved as he watched her. *Yes, she’s healthy without any injuries. What happened earlier didn’t affect her at all. The terrible imaginations that kept flashing through his head were all illusions. The warmth of her embrace is the truth.*

Even after properly recognizing all the facts, it was difficult to take his hands off her. He kept wanting to touch her. He had to touch her to dispel the terrible images and come back to his senses.

If so, there was a way to realize reality more clearly.

Gideon slowly lowered his head and gently bit her plump lips. Unlike his calm face, his eyelashes fluttered and soon stilled at the warmth of his breath.

But his rapid heartbeat, conveyed through his chest that was pressed against hers, showed no signs of slowing.

The contact, which wasn’t deep from the beginning, didn’t last long. The man’s eyes, which finally parted her lips with a soft sound, were clouded. One might even say they were distorted by desire.

However, Vanessa also saw something else contained within. Now, even if it was hidden in the darkness, she could interpret him quite well.

“Are you, perhaps, scared right now?”

At Vanessa’s cautious question, he suddenly gasped and laughed. Gideon rubbed his nose against Vanessa’s neck and blurted out, “Sometimes I feel like I’m crazy.”

“You do seem like it. You’re just like Jonah Hill when he’s drunk right now.”

“That’s really….” *That’s too much.*

As Gideon muttered, Vanessa patted his back. She couldn’t even reach halfway around his crouching form, but if it could ease his anxiety…

She wished her arms were longer.

Vanessa, who was the same kind of coward, quickly realized what he was suffering from. Cowards understand each other.

“I’m really okay. You know? I don’t have any injuries.”

“I know. But….”

“If you know, that’s enough. Honestly, in this situation, I should be the one worrying, and you should be comforting me!”

“Still, I regret it. I hate that you’re in a dangerous place like the Special Forces. I should have transferred the ownership of Janaba [presumably a valuable asset or title] to His Majesty right away. So quickly that you wouldn’t even notice.”

Vanessa hit the broad back she was hugging. The man rubbed his forehead against her neck, pretending to be hurt.

“You promised to always come back healthy. I’m holding you to it.”

“Yes. That’s right,” he whispered like a sigh.

But his eyes, which straightened his back, still contained many things. Not particularly bright things, but shaded things. She didn’t want to send him back alone.

“Coward.”

“I was born that way.”

“Actually, me too.”

The sharp tension was softened by the stifled laughter at the fear of the night.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t easily let go of her hand and get up. He would take his hand off, but then come back and caress her cheek. He pulled her waist in and kissed her curly hair.

Vanessa, seeing Gideon leaning his head against the alley wall and blinking his eyes in fatigue, eventually went to Valder Castle that day and slept for a very short time.

As always, the bed in the castle was very cozy. Even if there wasn’t enough time to fully appreciate it.